FNS Direct Certification Improvement Grant (Tier I)

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is offering the Direct Certification Improvement Grant (Tier I) to help States enhance their direct certification processes for free school meals. With a focus on meeting HHFKA benchmarks, the grant aims to simplify access, improve accuracy, and reduce paperwork in the National School Lunch Program. Grants are available in two tiers: Tier 1 provides funding for planning and limited implementation projects ($150,000 max), while Tier 2 supports larger implementation projects ($1,000,000 max). States have specific application windows in 2013. The deadline for Tier I grants is July 1, 2013.

Opportunity ID: 214033

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General Information

Document Type::	Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number::	USDA-FNS-DC-FY-2013
Funding Opportunity Title::	Direct Certification Improvement Grant (Tier I
Opportunity Category::	Mandatory
Opportunity Category Explanation::	CategoryExplanation
Funding Instrument Type::
Category of Funding Activity::	Food and Nutrition
Category Explanation::
Expected Number of Awards::	10
Assistance Listings Number(s)::	10.579 — Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement::	No
Version::	Synopsis 1
Posted Date::	Jan 07, 2013
Last Updated Date::
Original Closing Date for Applications::	Jul 01, 2013
Current Closing Date for Applications::	Jul 01, 2013
Archive Date::	Jul 31, 2013
Estimated Total Program Funding::	$ 8,000,000
Award Ceiling::	$1,000,000
Award Floor::	$75,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants::	State governments
Additional Information on Eligibility::

Additional Information

Agency Name::	Food and Nutrition Service
Description::	FNS is announcing a new Direct Certification Improvement Grant opportunity to make available to States approximately $8 million in remaining funds to be used for direct certification improvements. Purpose of Grants *The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 (P.L. 111-296) amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to add provisions intended to encourage States to improve program access through direct certification, including: 1. Requiring States to reach percentage benchmarks for direct certification rates for children in households receiving assistance under SNAP according to the following timelines: 80% for school year 2011-2012; 90% for school year 2012-2013; and 95% for school year 2013-2014 and each school year thereafter; and 2. Requiring States that fall below the benchmark for the previous school year to develop and implement continuous improvement plans (CIPs) to describe specific measures that the State will use to identify more children who are eligible for direct certification, including improvements or modifications to technology, information systems, or databases. The purpose of the Direct Certification Improvement Grants described in the new RFA is to fund State agency activities in planning and implementing direct certification improvement projects that will help them reach and maintain the direct certification rate benchmarks mandated by the HHFKA. Ultimately, FNS intends for the grants to assist States in improving access, increasing accuracy, and reducing paperwork in the NSLP and SBP by simplifying the certification process for free school meals. Types of Grants Offered FNS is offering two types of Direct Certification Improvement Grants: 1. Tier 1: Limited-scope planning and implementation grants may be awarded for up to $150,000 under a simplified application process to fund planning (particularly continuous improvement plans for those not meeting 80% benchmarks in school year 2011-2012) and short-term implementation projects of limited scope. Please note that funding is limited to no more than $75,000 for planning activities. The grants will be awarded for periods of up to one year. States will have six opportunities to apply in 2013: February 1, March 1,April 1, May 1, June 3, and July 1, 2013 (if funds remain available); and 2. Tier 2: Full-scope implementation grants may be awarded for up to $1,000,000 to fund direct certification implementation projects of significant scope, for periods of one to three years. State agencies will have two opportunities to apply: April 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013 (if funds remain available).
Link to Additional Information::
Grantor Contact Information::	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Version History

Version	Modification Description	Updated Date
Synopsis 1

Package Status

Below are CLOSED Opportunity Package(s) no longer available for this Funding Opportunity:

Package No: 1

Assistance Listings:	10.579
Competition ID:	USDA-FNS-DC-FY-2013
Competition Title:	FY 2013 Direct Certification Improvement Grant
Opportunity Package ID:	PKG00158690
Opening Date:	Jan 07, 2013
Closing Date:	Jul 01, 2013
Agency Contact Information::	Carla Garcia
Who Can Apply::	Organization Applicants
mendatory_forms	SF424 Mandatory Form [V1.1] Other Attachments Form [V1.0] Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) [V1.1] Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) [V1.0] Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B – Mandatory) [V1.1]
optional_forms	Attachments [V1.0] Key Contacts [V1.0]

Packages

Assistance Listings	Competition ID	Competition Title	Opportunity Package ID	Opening Date	Closing Date	Actions	Who Can Apply:
10.579	USDA-FNS-DC-FY-2013	FY 2013 Direct Certification Improvement Grant	PKG00158690	Jan 07, 2013	Jul 01, 2013	View	Carla Garcia	Organization Applicants

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